What tractor should I buy?

This is a discussion on What tractor should I buy? within Commercial Vehicles, part of the BHP India category; I was speaking to my cousin on the telephone yesterday and he asked me to look at the spec etc ...

Thanks for your response. The tractor will be used in northern Haryana, as you say John Deere are the bid daddy when it comes to tractors but costs are putting him off.

Sonalika have a terrible reputation in our area so that is out the question. He did buy a MF Tafe but it was too lightweight for his liking and was sold after a year or so.

The New Holland models are what he has narrowed his choice down to. They have a decent repuation in our area and they doing a bulk buy (4 to 5 tractors with a few other villagers) so hope to get a nice little discount as well.

He currently uses a Ford 3600 which they have owned since new since the 1980s. Very reliable and tough as old boots.

The New Holland models are what he has narrowed his choice down to. They have a decent repuation in our area and they doing a bulk buy (4 to 5 tractors with a few other villagers) so hope to get a nice little discount as well.

He currently uses a Ford 3600 which they have owned since new since the 1980s. Very reliable and tough as old boots.

"Area repuation" is important in tractors and must be factored in while making the purchase. Have you considered HMT that's made at Pinjore and has been a popular brand? The best people to guide you would be the actual users in the area where the machine will be used. Good after sales service is important.

New Holland enjoys a good reputation in southern Haryana where I'm from.

Have you considered HMT that's made at Pinjore and has been a popular brand?

To be honest I think its a class issue as well. Being a zamindar of a certain standard you do not even consider certain makes of tractors as they are considered beneath you and for the less well off. Stupid attitude to take but if he can afford it then might as well go for something half decent and a brand that has decent reputation locally. A shame he is scared of going for the John Deere.

I remember that people used to laugh at anyone with an Eicher tractor as they were considered to be lightweight. I still recall the phut phut phut phut engine noise those red eichers used to make.

Please can anyone explain the technical difference between the two New Holland tractors linked to in the first post.

Massey Ferguson(Tafe) The old model was well appreciated and still the second hand market in coorg for the same are good but the new model was not well recieved as it had complaints of being light weight in the front due to which a driver lost his life when the front lifted over while ploughing.

HMT is not sold much but my friend owns one and he goes by the handle TIMSON on team bhp. He has had this one from a long while and loves his beast as it has taken quite a beating.
PS: His tractor is maintained by his dad and no mechanic has ever touched it

One suggestion is to find one which has good backup of service or one where the local mechanics are going to understand it and spares are available in plenty as you are never going to drive 40kms to the dealers place for an overhaul after ploughing in the slush:-)

It depends more on the usage. Is it planned to be used for more trolley pulling work or the work in the field for ploughing work etc.
TAFE is low on maintenance and very good for both the works and not very good in terms of heavy pulling work on the field.
Same with Mahindra. It is slightly costlier to maintain and they are leading ones in the market.
Sonalika is not a good one. They have lot of reliability issues.
Swaraj is a very good one. They have very good engines. Better one is to select a oil cooled ones.
Newholand one seems to be a good one but I do not have experience of using this one.